Mind your own

The “No-Biz” award, eh? Lew Ebert, president of the state Chamber of Commerce, stopped in Lawrence recently and among other matters, dropped off the group’s first “No-Biz” award to poke fun at the concept of a living wage ordinance for the city.

Maybe he should have waited. Maybe the state chamber should have held off until both:

A. The study commissioned by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce related to the impact of living wage ordinances on other university communities is completed.

B. The city is actively discussing such an ordinance.

At that point, the chamber exec might have marshaled his organization’s best arguments, including the point that cities and states saddled with reputations related to high taxes, out-migration of population, failure to address tort reform, and high costs for health care, workers compensation and unemployment compensation (that’s Kansas) have a tough time attracting new industry. Those factors make his job more difficult, for sure. Despite its great infrastructure, well-educated population, and the super work ethic of its residents, Kansas has a variety of negatives to overcome in attracting quality new employers. Ebert and the state chamber don’t want another one, like a “living wage” tag, added to the problems that must be dealt with.

That’s understandable. However, the ridicule, whatever its motivation, is a poor strategy. It’s not befitting. The state group gets a “Mind Your Own Biz” award.